Fox News' Kelly left unchallenged Lieberman's assertion that McCain "accepted" Hagee's endorsement -- he actively sought it
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SUMMARY: On America's Election HQ, Megyn Kelly hosted Sen. Joe Lieberman in a discussion about the apology made by Rev. John Hagee, a supporter of Sen. John McCain, over controversial comments he made concerning the Catholic Church. But Kelly did not challenge Lieberman's suggestion that McCain merely accepted Hagee's endorsement, and Kelly made no mention of McCain's acknowledgment that he actually sought Hagee's endorsement.
During the May 13 edition of Fox News' America's Election HQ, host Megyn Kelly reported on Sen. John McCain supporter Rev. John Hagee's apology to Catholics for controversial comments he made concerning the Catholic Church. Kelly then played a clip of McCain saying: "The fact that he has made an apology, I think, is very helpful. Whenever someone apologizes for something they did wrong, then I think that that's a laudable thing to do." Citing a Democratic National Committee (DNC) statement that called for McCain to renounce Hagee's endorsement, Kelly asked Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), "How do we go forward on this?" Lieberman responded: "John McCain never went to Pastor Hagee's church. He accepted his endorsement." But McCain did not merely "accept[]" Hagee's endorsement, as Lieberman suggested; he admitted having sought it, which Kelly did not note.
During an April 20 interview on ABC's This Week, after McCain said he "strongly condemn[s]" "any comments that he [Hagee] made about the Catholic Church," host George Stephanopoulos stated, "Yet you solicited and accepted his endorsement." McCain replied: "Yes, indeed, I did." Later, when asked if it was "a mistake to solicit and accept [Hagee's] endorsement," McCain replied, "Oh, probably. Sure." But when Stephanopoulos asked McCain, "So you no longer want his endorsement?" McCain responded: "I'm glad to have his endorsement."
Media Matters for America has noted that, in addition to his comments about the Catholic Church, Hagee has also made controversial statements about homosexuality, Islam, and women.
From the May 13 edition of Fox News' America's Election HQ:
KELLY: Senator John McCain campaigning in Washington state today, on day two of his environmental push -- and we're going to get to that in one moment. Meantime, however, controversial McCain supporter, televangelist John Hagee, apologizing today to Catholics for his cutting remarks about the Roman Catholic faith, which included calling the Catholic Church, quote, "the great whore." Moments ago, McCain responding to the reconciliation.
McCAIN [video clip]: The fact that he has made an apology, I think, is very helpful. Whenever someone apologizes for something they did wrong, then I think that that's a laudable thing to do.
KELLY: Well, the head of the Catholic League accepted that apology, by the way. In Connecticut, Senator Joe Lieberman, also a McCain supporter, joins us now. Good evening, Senator.
LIEBERMAN: Good evening, Megyn. Good to be with you.
KELLY: It's great to have you again. I want to ask you about this Hagee thing before we get to the environment --
LIEBERMAN: Sure.
KELLY: -- because it's, you know, the late breaking news of the day. The DNC already came out with a response to this, saying this is insufficient. They want McCain to do more. Let me show you what they said. They say, "Unless John McCain's idea of being a new kind of Republican includes cozying up to radicals who compare women to dogs, hold racially insensitive fundraisers, and call one of the worst natural disasters in our country's history 'God's punishment,' he should renounce John Hagee's endorsement immediately." They don't seem prepared to let this die. Where do you think it stands? How do we go forward on this?
LIEBERMAN: Well, look, I think that the DNC is obviously doing this 'cause they said Pastor Hagee is some kind of response to Reverend Wright for Senator Obama, but I don't think that's fair in the basic way that everyone has already said, which was, John McCain never went to Pastor Hagee's church. He accepted his endorsement. He represents a lot of people in this country, particularly Christians who care about the state of Israel. He founded a group called Christians United for Israel.
The statements that were brought out that he had made about the Catholic Church were a total surprise to me. I know, to Senator McCain, they were obviously reprehensible. And I give Pastor Hagee a lot of credit for just plain apologizing. And I must say there's a difference because Reverend Wright never did apologize; he just restated the objectionable and reprehensible things he had said.
KELLY: OK, let's move on to the substantive issues, and that is campaign --
LIEBERMAN: OK.
KELLY: -- or, sorry -- climate change. John McCain's been out speaking about global warming, something that is music to the ears of a lot of independents and some Republicans, but there are a lot of Republicans and a lot of conservatives who don't want to hear this, and they say he is not helping himself in the general election. How do you respond?
What's up with Joe, anyway? I can't believe Kerry actually picked this lying twerp as a running mate.
Actually, it was Al Gore who picked this twerp. Kerry's running mate was John Edwards.
All I can say about Fox Noise Kelly is......
Talk about a smokin' hot brainless blonde!
If she wasn't a babe she wouldn't have a job, even at Fox.....
He [McCain] accepted his [Hagee's] endorsement.
He did not merely "accept" it. He sought it out. McCain wanted to be associated with Hagee. It was not a passive act.
He [McCain] accepted his [Hagee's] endorsement.
He did not merely "accept" it. He sought it out. McCain wanted to be associated with Hagee. It was not a passive act.
Still waiting for the "LIE".
Maybe a few of his ideas about the future of Israel and Armageddon and all that.... with a mushroom cloud in the background.
The Democrats won't win this election by playing nice.
POV,
You're right, its not the same thing, but that doesn't excuse Liebermann lying regarding how the endorsement came about, does it?
So YOU will endorse a candidate who was spiritually advised by a racist/hater instead of endorsing a candidate who was seeking voter support from a hater?
I guess that makes sense in the liberal world. But in the liberal world it is dispicable to harm innocent/defenseless animals but ok to dispose of unborn humans for any reason. When the word hypocrit is used to describe a liberal then all of this makes perfect sense.
Nerz,
We are grasping at straws, and the difference is this: Many of Hagee's views are shared by some (not all) of the people who would vote for McCain (i.e. we should attack Iran, gays cause hurricanes, women aren't much different from dobermans when they are PMSing, the Catholic Church is the "great whore," "slave sales" are a great fundraiser for your church, apocalypse can't come soon enough), and therefore, Hagee's views are nothing new. I can't wait until they get to Parsley who McCain called a "moral compass."
Obama's pastor's views are different and not part of any "base." The G-D America was so miserably taken out of context it has scarred and scared many. His press conferences made him even more of a lightening rod. But the main thing is, the bigotry shown by Hagee and to a greater extent, Parsley, is indicative of their followers (which are in far great numbers than Wright's are) and not nearly as "shocking" because of its prevalence.
That being said, if McCain shares these views (Hagee's and Parsley's), I would think that independents would be more frightened of McCain than they would be supposing Obama shares Wright's views, but that's just me.
the democrats will win the election. it's just a question of whether the victor will be bho or jm.
I think McCain could be liberal on any of the issues, depending on what day of the week it is, how grumpy the Senator is on that day, and which direction the wind is blowing at that particular moment.
He represents a lot of people in this country, particularly Christians who care about the state of Israel. He founded a group called Christians United for Israel.
Oh well then that cancels out everything else, eh Joe?
And I would hope Christians wouldn't want to be represented by this guy.
Both Hagee & Wright are the worst examples of the Christian clergy. Both should apologize.
But if the media is going to jump all over Obama because of his ties to Wright, then McCain seeking out this reprehensible nutbag should also be examined just as diligently.
Oh well then that cancels out everything else, eh Joe?
I'm thinking of starting an anti-Lieberman group. I think I'll call it "Americans United Against Lying Senators Who Talk Like the Guy Who Played the Father on 'ALF'." :-)
I even voted against my favorite Republican, Lowell P. Weicker in 1988 to vote for Joe. I wish I could take my votes back.
"He founded a group called Christians United for Israel."
Considering the apocolyptic views by Hagee, his support for this group is more along the lines of Tyson Farms United for Chickens.
Fundamentalists really only care about Israel because Israel needs to rebuild the temple so that the world can come to an end. Yeah for Israel!
There is also some historical evidence that people like Hagee were pushing for the resettlement of Jews in Israel back before WWI, so that Jesus would hurry up and come back. With "friends" like these...
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=216
This is just one article, but the delusion that returning the Jews to the "Promised Land" would jump start the return of Jesus was well established in England and the U.S. at the time.
let's say you're right. so what? if it's the end of days, it's the end of days. what can you do about it?
I am not all that opposed to Wright. I don't find it that offensive that Wright believes in fighting for the oppressed against the oppressors. Wright may be over the top and his ego seems to have gotten the better of him, but I agree with the main idea of his ministry - and I don't know how any Christian could object to it to be honest.
I must admit, I never was really all that interested in the controversy to begin with.
I know you cannot be serious.
Fighting for the oppressed over the oppressors? The white man is holding us down? .........Then goes to live in a multimillion dollar house in a white community on a golf course....while preaching his hypocritcal jargon? Cmon man.
If you aren't against any of his ideology, then I am assuming you can prove the "government created HIV to kill off blacks" (no, the Tuskeegee comparison doesnt work), and explain to me what Black Theology has to do with Christianity.
Right after you explain to us what Christianity today has to do with Christianity.
He still hasn't adequately explained why he has no problem with sending other people overseas to die for Bush, while he refuses to go himself. (And Columbus - we already established in the other thread that your niece does not count as an excuse.)
We've established that, or you and your partisan code pink fellows have?
Oh, We all established that. And how nice of you to slip that little "code pink" slam in there as if to question our sexuality. I've found during my 55+ years on this planet that the ones who are the most vocal about accusing others of being gay are the ones who are the least sure of their own sexuality. Perhaps your war-mongoring is a front you put on so no one will suspect that you're really a closeted homosexual....
You're looking worse and worse with each post you make here, Columbus. You should really quit while you're behind - all you're doing is showing the world how ignorant you are.
Obviously the bible, or Christianity, in your world, has been transformed from preachings and commandments to White on Black crime.
Again, I ask, what does Rev. Wrights view on Black Theology have to do with Christianity? And prove to me that the Government created HIV to kill off blacks.
They are all outrageous accusations, and this is the crap along with the gangster rap stuff, is what foils the view of mainstream white American when it comes to generalizing the black population.
"Obviously the bible, or Christianity, in your world, has been transformed from preachings and commandments to White on Black crime." --Columbus
You must excuse me. I don't speak wingnut. Can you rephrase your rant?
"Again, I ask, what does Rev. Wrights view on Black Theology have to do with Christianity?"--Columbus
Apparently you don't read so well. I addressed that in my post above.
"And prove to me that the Government created HIV to kill off blacks"--Columbus
Wright only said it was possible. I don't think our government did it, but I am not omniscient enough to claim I can "prove" it is impossible. I doubt you can do that either.
"They are all outrageous accusations, and this is the crap along with the gangster rap stuff, is what foils the view of mainstream white American when it comes to generalizing the black population."--Columbus
You are merely stating your opinion. I don't agree. I don't really see what the Rev. Wright has to do with "gangster rap [sic]" either. Do you often just lump all black folks together like that? Perhaps that may help explain some of your apparent confusion on this issue.
That's what I thought.
I tend to take the Catholic view of the Bible, and that is, that you can't take it word for word literally. It needs to be interpreted, and it's not a book of fact, as in, all of these things happened at some point in time. One needs to look at the Bible in the terms of parables and lessons that can be taught using examples set forth in the text.
It's not the literal word of God, because humans wrote it, translated it, left out a lot of things that were originally in there, heavily edited it here and there, and switched things around to meet their own needs and goals during the times in which it went through transformation.
It is a work of fiction, and can be used as a guide, but shouldn't be used as something literal.
I've noticed she's wearing her glasses a lot more lately. She must see some younger Fox-babes on the horizon and is transitioning into the serious journalist look.
You're right, Phlibber, MMFA doesn't normally post grammatically sloppy headlines loaded with confused opinions.
Here's another one you won't be seeing:
Philib gets clue; Understands topic, and posts honest comment !
The other thing that you're forgetting as well, is the whole group of Hillary supporters who are starting to sound very much like right wing talk show hosts when they speak about this very issue. So your assertion that liberals aren't taking Obama to task, wrongfully i might add, is, well, incorrect.
What a surprise that is. You're wrong about something.
McCain said Hagee's apology was laudable. but i thought i heard him say it was a " lotta bull".That way he covers both positions.
These Christians who are concerned about Israel ---Is their concern about the rapture that will come when Israel is somehow involved in Christian Warfare. I am just wondering.
That's what makes me laugh at those oversensitive Christians crying "Religious bigotry !"anytime it's mentioned that they're getting their hands a little too far into the works.They try to minimize the idea that the fringes have much of an impact on the country.
I think I mentioned in a post here recently a caller I heard on some righty radio show. The topic was conservation and the environment, and the woman asked the host if it wasn't possible that God's plan was for us to "use up" the planet on schedule for the end times.
I realize the real fanatics are a minority, but I do keep in mind that a group whose vote is courted believe that bloody wars and complete irresponsibility with natural resources are part of a solid plan toward earning their wings.
In a way, it's too bad that Romney didn't win the Repub nomination. We could have had a lot of fun with the looney beliefs of Mormons. For example, they have a mine somewhere out west where God supposedly hid treasures and supplies for the Mormons to use during the End Times. They've been digging in this mine for decades, and actually sell stock in it to the faithful. Of course, they haven't found anything yet.